Communities committee inquiry on the central heating programme and warm deal a response from CAS.
The central heating programme has been a welcome and effective initiative to help tackle fuel poverty. Concerns remain, however, that without reform and additional measures, its impact on eradicating fuel poverty will remain limited. Since its inception in 2000, over 83,000 central heating systems have been installed1, free of charge to pensioners with either irreparable or non-existent central heating. The scheme was extended in 2003 to include upgrade of partial or inefficient central heating systems for the over 80s. It was extended further in 2006 to include upgrade of partial or inefficient systems for those over 60s in receipt of the guarantee element of Pension Credit.